Gate-latch.



No. 763,426. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

P.- N. RISSBR. GATE LATGH.

nrmoynon run JAN. 21. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: y mvzmoR ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,426, dated June 28, 1904.

Application filed January 21, 1903. Serial No. 139,907. (No model.)

To (ti/Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHAREs N. RIssER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elizabethtown, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of latches used on the gates of fences and other similar structures; and the objects of these improvements are, first, to provide a means through which the latch can be operated that is fully exposed and that is entirely removed from the adjacent parts, and, second, to so construct the latch that after it is opened it will automatically assume its nor mal position and throw said means through which it was actuated back into its original position. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a latch embodying my invention shown in its normal position and looking a gate in a closed position; and Fig. 2 a similar elevation, but showing the latch withdrawn from the keeper preparatory to opening the gate. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on broken line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a plan view of the keeper.

Similar numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, 5 indicates the shutting-post of a fence, and 6 the stile of the swinging end of the gate, and to the front edge whereof the latch'is attached.

7 indicates a latch-plate secured on the front edge of stile 6 and on which are formed staples 8 and 9, staple 8 being located near the top of the latch-plate and staple 9 some distance below and in line with staple 8. Through the staples passes avertically-acting latch-rod 10, wherethrough the latch is retracted, as will be described. The latch rod extends above stile 6 and is curved outward and upward, as shown at 11, to prevent interference of the knob 12 on the top thereof with the top of the stile. Somewhat below staple 8 are arms or jaws 13, that embracing latch-rod 10 project from the latch-plate toward shuttingpost 5, and in the inner edges of these jaws spring-plate 17, the lower end whereof is secured to the lower end of the latch-plate by the bolt 18, securing that end of said latchplate to stile 6 of the gate. Latch 16 plays backward and forward between the outer ends of jaws 13 and is normally acted upon by spring-plate 17 to engage the keeper 19, attached to shutting-post 5. Behind latch 16 is a lever fulcrumed between jaws 13 and having its upper and shorter arm 20 connected by the short links 21 with the upper end of latch 16 and its lower and longer arm 22 connected by the long links 15 with latch-rod 10. Links 15 and 21 embrace the ends of the parts they connect, as is usual.

As will be observed, the latch normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. To disengage the latch from the keeper, the latchrod 10 is depressed by pressure on knob 12, and upon the release of the pressure on said knob both the latch and the latch-rod are restoredto their normal positions by the resiliency of spring-plate 17. This latch can be applied equally well to a gate which opens either way or to one which swings only in one direction.

I do not restrict myself to the details of con struction herein shown and described, as it is obviousthat many alterations may be made therein without departing from the principle and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of a vertically-disposed latch, a spring-plate forming an extension of the lower end of the latch, a lever connected with the latch through a pivot, a verticallydisposed latch-rod, and an operating connection between the latch-rod and said lever, for the purposespecified.

2. The combination of a vertically-disposed latch, a spring-plate forming an extension of the lower end of the latch, a lever, a verticallyi IO plate forming an extension of the lower end of the latch, a lever fulcrumed between the jaws, a vertically-disposed latch-rod passing through said passage, links connecting the upper end of the lever with the latch, and

links connecting the lower end of the lever with I 5 the latch-rod, for the purpose specified.

PHARES N. RISSER. Vitnesses:

C. G. BAssLER, WM. R. GERIIART. 

